Background: Inadequate drainage of traumatic hemothoraces may result in prolonged hospitalization and complication such as empyema, fibrothorax and pleural calcification. This needs to be the placement of a tube thorascostomy which is efficacious in more than 80% of cases. Other cases require surgical treatment. Material and Method: From March 2002 to February 2003, there were 123 patients who was done closed thorascostomy in traumatic hemothorax. 10 patients (group I) were undergone early retained clot evacuation with video assisted thoracoscopic surgery, but 5 patients (group II) who developed a localized hematoma or empyema were operated. Male were more than female and mean average was similar in both group. The most common cause of injury was traffic accidents and frequently combined lesions were a abdomen. Result: Interval from injury and operation, mean operation time, duration of tube drainage and hospital stay in group I were shorter than group II (p＜0.05). Operation-related complication and recurrence of fluid collection within follow up period (17.8⁑3.8 months) in group I were none, but in group II (21.5⁑5.3 months) were 2 cases. Conclusion: Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery can be utilized as an effective and safe method for the removal of retained clotted hemothorax within 7 days.(Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004;37:987-991)

Keywords: 1. Thoracoscopy, 2. Hemothorax